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South Dakota Public Utilities Commission Meeting
January 13, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. CST. The meeting will commence at the conclusion of the Show Cause Hearing.
Matthew Training Center, Foss Building
Pierre, South Dakota

NOTE:  Docket participants who wish to join this meeting by conference call should contact the Commission at 605-773-3201 by 5:00 p.m. CST on Monday, January 12, 2026, to reserve a phone line. Lines are limited and assigned on a first come, first served basis, subject to possible reassignment to accommodate persons who must appear in a proceeding. Ultimately, if you wish to participate in docket discussion at the Commission Meeting and a line is not available, you may have to appear in person. 

NOTE:  To listen to the Commission Meeting live please go to the PUC’s website puc.sd.gov and click on the LIVE link on the home page. The Commission requests persons who will only be listening to proceedings and not actively appearing in a case listen via the webcast to free phone lines for those who must appear.  The Commission meetings are archived on the PUC’s website under the Commission Actions tab. Click on “Commission Meeting Archives,” to access the recordings.

NOTE: Notice is further given to persons with disabilities that this Commission meeting is being held in a physically accessible place. If you have special needs, please notify the Commission and we will make all necessary arrangements.

AGENDA OF COMMISSION MEETING

Administration

1.        Approval of the Minutes of the Commission Meetings Held on December 2 and 16, 2025 (Staff: Janeth Merriman)

Consumer Reports

1.       Status Report on Consumer Utility Inquiries (Consumer Affairs: Deb Gregg)

Telecommunications

1.        TC25-036      In the Matter of the Application by Beresford Municipal Telephone Company for an Amended Certificate of Authority (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac; Staff Attorney: Amanda Reiss)

            On October 27, 2025, Beresford Municipal Telephone Company (Beresford) filed an application for an Amended Certificate of Authority for local exchange service pursuant to SDCL 49-31-69. Pursuant to action of the Beresford City Council that annexed new areas into the city, Beresford requests to add new telephone service territory currently held by Clarity Telecom, LLC dba Blue Peak. Beresford also requests the Commission waive ARSD 20:10:32:03 (1-8); (10-22); and (24).

         TODAY, shall the Commission approve the request for waiver? AND shall the Commission approve the request for an Amended Certificate of Authority?

2.        TC25-059      In the Matter of the Application of City of Brookings Municipal Telephone dba Swiftel Communications for an Amended Certificate of Authority (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac)

            On November 21, 2025, City of Brookings Municipal Telephone dba Swiftel Communications (Swiftel) filed an application for an Amended Certificate of Authority for local exchange service pursuant to SDCL 49-31-69. Pursuant to resolutions by the Mayor of the City of Brookings that annexed new areas into the city, Swiftel requests to add new telephone service territory currently held by Interstate Telecommunications Cooperative (ITC). ITC does not object to Swiftel’s request. Swiftel also requests the Commission waive ARSD 20:10:32:03 (1-8); (10-22); and (24).

         TODAY, shall the Commission approve the request for waiver? AND shall the Commission approve the request for an Amended Certificate of Authority?

3.        TC25-060      In the Matter of Midcontinent Communications Waiver Request for Number Block Release (Staff Analyst: Joseph Rezac)

            On December 30, 2025, Midcontinent Communications dba Midco (Midco) filed for a waiver of the utilization threshold requirements outlined in FCC’s Number Resource Optimization Orders, FCC 00-429 and FCC 01-362 released in CC Docket No. 99-200, which would allow PA/Somos, the Number Pooling Administrator, to assign a new Code of 5,000 contiguous numbers to Midco to fulfill a customer request in the Rapid City Rate Center.

         TODAY, shall the Commission approve the request for Waiver of Utilization Threshold Requirements?

Electric

1.         EL10-016        In the Matter of the Application of Great River Energy and Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy for a Permit to Construct a 10.6 Mile, 345 kV Transmission Line (CapX2020) in Brookings County Near White, South Dakota (Staff Analysts: Darren Kearney, Jon Thurber; Staff Attorney: Logan Schaefbauer)

            On November 23, 2010, the Commission received an Application from Great River Energy and Northern States Power Company dba Xcel Energy (Applicant) for a Permit to Construct a 10.6 Mile, 345 kV Transmission Line (CapX2020) in Brookings County Near White, South Dakota. On June 8, 2011, Applicant and Commission Staff filed a Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Stipulation. On June 17, 2011, the Commission issued an Order Granting Joint Motion for Approval of Settlement Stipulation and Granting Permit to Construct Facilities (Order). In accordance with the Order and SDCL 49-41B-38, Applicant took out Bond No. 190056035 in the amount of $500,000 “in favor of and for the benefit of, such townships, counties, or other governmental entities whose property is crossed by the transmission facility.” On December 17, 2025, Applicant filed a Letter regarding Bond Release Request.

           TODAY, shall Bond No. 190056035 be released? OR how shall the Commission proceed?

Gas and Electric

1.         GE25-001       In the Matter of the Joint Application of NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation, Black Hills Corporation and NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc., for Approval of Merger (Staff Analysts: Patrick Steffensen, Brittany Mehlhaff, Eric Paulson; Staff Attorneys: Logan Schaefbauer, Jennie Fuerst)

           On October 27, 2025, Black Hills Corporation (Black Hills) and NorthWestern Energy Group, Inc. (NorthWestern Group and collectively, the Merger Parties) and NorthWestern Energy Public Service Corporation d/b/a NorthWestern Energy (NorthWestern) (together with Merger Parties, the Joint Applicants) filed a Joint Application for Approval of Merger. On December 3, 2025, the Commission granted South Dakota Laborers Local 620, the Great Plains Laborer’s District Council, and the Laborers International Union of North America’s Petition to Intervene. On January 2, 2026, Commission staff (Staff) and the Joint Applicants filed a Motion for Approval of Procedural Schedule.

           TODAY, shall the Commission grant the Motion by Staff and Joint Applicants for Approval of Procedural Schedule? OR how shall the Commission proceed?

Items for Commission Discussion

         SDCL 1-25-13, enacted by the 2025 Legislature, provides that each agency must annually review the state’s open meetings requirements in a public meeting.  At the January 13, 2026, Commission meeting, Commission Counsel will provide an overview of the open meetings requirements.  The information for the Commission’s review can be found at https://puc.sd.gov/commission/Dockets/Admin/2025/info25-001/OpenMeetingsPresentation.pdf.

Public Comment

Individuals who wish to make public comments to the Commission may do so during this time. All who offer public comments are requested to sign in at the Commission meeting or let the Commission know of their wish to speak when they call in to reserve a phone line. Time limits for comments may be determined at the discretion of the Commission.

Announcements

1.   Commissioners and staff will meet virtually with representatives of Northern Natural Gas on Friday, January 9, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. CST. To attend the meeting, please call the PUC at (605) 773-3201 for instructions by 10:00 a.m. CST, January 9, 2026. The agenda is to discuss company activities.

2.   A Show Cause Hearing will be held Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. CST in the Matthew Training Center, Foss Building, 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, South Dakota for the following dockets:

  • TC25-039 - In the Matter of Aquarius Silver LLC’s Failure to Timely Pay the Gross Receipts Tax
  • TC25-040 - In the Matter of Cliq Communications LLC dba Cliq Mobile’s Failure to Timely Pay the Gross Receipts Tax
  • TC25-042 - In the Matter of Go Technology Management, LLC's Failure to Timely Pay the Gross Receipts Tax
  • TC25-043 - In the Matter of Hello Mobile Telecom, LLC's Failure to Timely Pay the Gross Receipts Tax
  • TC25-044 - In the Matter of Lux Mobile USA, Inc.'s Failure to Timely Pay the Gross Receipts Tax
  • TC25-045 - In the Matter of Mobile 13, Inc.’s Failure to Timely Pay the Gross Receipts Tax
  • TC25-047 - In the Matter of Wrazzle, Inc.'s Failure to Timely Pay the Gross Receipts Tax
  • TC25-049 - In the Matter of Power Mobile, LLC’s Failure to Timely Pay the Gross Receipts Tax
  • TC25-051 - In the Matter of Q Link Wireless LLC’s Failure to Timely Pay the Gross Receipts Tax
  • TC25-052 - In the Matter of Ready Wireless LLC dba Affinity Cellular and Club Cellular’s Failure to Timely Pay the Gross Receipts Tax
  • TC25-053 - In the Matter of RSCU Mobile LLC’s Failure to Timely Pay the Gross Receipts Tax
  • TC25-054 - In the Matter of Splash Cellular LLC’s Failure to Timely Pay the Gross Receipts Tax
  • TC25-055 - In the Matter of Volt Mobile Inc.’s Failure to Timely Pay the Gross Receipts Tax
  • TC25-057 - In the Matter of Working Assets Funding Service Inc. dba Credo Long Distance’s Failure to Timely Pay the Gross Receipts Tax

3.   The Public Utilities Commission office will be closed Monday, January 19, 2026, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

4.   The Public Utilities Commission will hold a hearing on a Motion to Dismiss for  PS25-003 - In the Matter of the PUC Staff’s Complaint Against Black Hills Power, Inc. dba Black Hills Energy immediately following the adjournment of the regular commission meeting on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, in the Matthew Training Center, Foss Building, 523 E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, South Dakota. 

5.   Commission meetings are scheduled for February 12 and 23, 2026.

  /s/ Travis Heasley
Travis Heasley
Operations Specialist
puc@state.sd.us
January 6, 2026